Some of the archival materials in this collection may be subject to copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Users of these materials are advised to determine the copyright status of any document from which they wish to publish.

Reproduction rights to the photographs made by Mrs. Kennedy or other members of the Kennedy Family are jointly held by the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Foundation, and the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. In addition, copyrights to many items in the Collection are held by the photographers who made them or their agencies. Researchers are advised to consult with the Audiovisual Archives Staff for further information.

Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., first deposited the Kennedy Family Collection of still photographs in the Kennedy Library in 1975, and made additional deposits from time to time in later years.

Access to the Collection is open. Access to some of the photograph albums is restricted due to age or fragility of the album; please consult with Audiovisual Archives staff prior to requesting access to albums.

The Kennedy Family Collection is made up of still photographs that span the years 1878-1980, with the bulk of the material originating between the years 1890-1965.

Members of the Kennedy family achieved degrees of national and global prominence in their lifetimes and, as a result, the Collection contains photographs of events and figures of national and global significance. Still, at its core, the Collection is a family’s collection of photographs. The focus of the images has always been on members of the family and represents many milestones in their lives. It showcases children growing from infancy to adulthood with their various interests and activities, parents both at work and at leisure with their children, grandparents spending time with grandchildren.

The Collections consists of photographs that represent the families of John F. Fitzgerald, Patrick Joseph Kennedy, and Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., as well as their friends and associates. Many of these photographs were made by members of the families and document the activities and interests of three generations.

Of particular interest are photographs made by Rose Fitzgerald during trips to Europe, Central America, and South America during the early 1900s. Other photographs showcase Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., and his family during his time as the United States Ambassador to the Court of Saint James in London. Additionally, there is significant representation of Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., and John F. Kennedy during their World War II service and various memorials to Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. following his death in combat. Featured prominently throughout this collection are photographs from the Kennedy family residences in Boston, Massachusetts, in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, and in Palm Beach, Florida, as well as images made during family trips around the United States and Europe. Also touched upon in this collection are the public careers of both John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy in the 1950s and 1960s.

As the Kennedy family grew more prominent within the United States and abroad, they increasingly became the subject of professional and press photographers, whose work has been incorporated into the Collection. Wherever possible, separate copyright ownership has been noted. Photographs originally captioned or identified by a member of the Kennedy family have had the original identifications placed between quotation marks ("_____") to distinguish from later identifications made by staff.

The public careers of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Edward M. Kennedy are extensively documented in other collections of photographs held by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, in particular "The President’s Collection" and the White House Photograph Collection. Other significant photographs of the Kennedy family can also be found in the Personal Papers of Joseph P. Kennedy; the Personal Papers of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy; the R. Sargent Shriver Collection; the Burton Berinsky Collection; photograph donations from Look Magazine, The New York Times, The Boston Herald, and other newspapers; Magnum Photos, Inc.; The National Archives; the Hannon family; and the Papers of James Seymour. Researchers are advised to consult with the Audiovisual Archives Staff for further information on these and still other collections in the Library’s holdings.

Formal and informal photographs of John F. "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald, his family, and associates; Patrick Joseph Kennedy and his family; and the Fitzgerald and Kennedy families together vacationing in the same locales.

Series 1.1.John F. Fitzgerald Family.305 photographs and two photograph albums

Arranged chronologically.

Formal and informal photographs of John F. Fitzgerald, his family and associates; particularly of Rose Fitzgerald and her friends during her school year abroad in Holland, 1908-1909, and during trips to Europe, 1911, and to Panama, 1913.

Cartes de visite and cabinet card portraits of P.J. Kennedy and his children; Joseph P. Kennedy while a student at Boston Latin School and Harvard College; other informal family photographs taken at various times and places.

Series 2.Boston Years, 1914-1927.About 400 photographs and four photograph albums.

Arranged chronologically.

Photographs of Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Kennedy and their children during the period when they resided in Boston (Brookline). Contains many candid photographs of the Kennedy children as well as formal portraits.

Series 3.Bronxville Years, 1927-1938.About 1,000 photographs and twelve photograph albums

Arranged chronologically.

Photographs of the Kennedy family during the period when their principal residence was in Bronxville, New York. This series includes many photographs of the family at their vacation homes in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, and Palm Beach, Florida. Also contained in this series are photographs of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., in Hollywood, California, and as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Maritime Commission; Kathleen Kennedy’s school year abroad in France; Rose Kennedy’s tour of Europe with Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., and Kathleen Kennedy; and numerous formal portraits by studio photographers.

Series 4.Embassy Years, 1938-1941.About 1,500 photographs and 13 photograph albums

Arranged chronologically.

Portraits and informal photographs of Joseph P. Kennedy and his family made while the Kennedy family was residing in London, England, or traveling in Europe. Includes many photographs of Joseph P. Kennedy's activities as U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James in England, Ireland, and the United States.

Series 5.World War II Years, 1941-1945.About 750 photographs and eight photograph albums

Arranged chronologically.

Photographs of the Kennedy family during the period of World War II. Includes formal portraits of Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Kathleen Kennedy; photographs of John F. Kennedy serving in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific, Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., serving with the U.S. Navy in Europe, Kathleen Kennedy serving with the American Red Cross in England, and other members of the family. This series also includes images of the Kennedy family with their friends and associates that were made at the Kennedy family homes in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, and Palm Beach, Florida.

082KFC-082-001Scrapbooks and albums: "Billy and Kick" [Diary and Scrapbook], 1944-1946

Series 6.Post-War Years, 1945-1960.About 1,100 photographs and six photograph albums

Arranged chronologically.

Contains photographs of the Kennedy family at Hyannis Port, Palm Beach and other locales, and at various events including memorial ceremonies for Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr.; John F. Kennedy campaigning for elective office and serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate; and Kathleen Kennedy and friends in England. Includes many formal portraits.

Series 7.John F. Kennedy Presidency, 1961-1963.About 350 photographs and one photograph album

Arranged Chronologically.

Photographs of President John F. Kennedy at various official functions and on trips; photographs of Rose Kennedy and other members of the family at various ceremonies, functions and trips; and images of the Kennedy family at Hyannis Port and Palm Beach.

Series 8.Post Presidency Years, 1963-.About 320 photographs and four photograph albums

Arranged chronologically.

This series contains contains photographs of Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy on trips and at various ceremonies and functions, particularly for handicapped children and at dedications of memorials for John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. This series also contains photographs of Robert F. Kennedy and his family during his service as Attorney General of the United States, as United States Senator from New York, and during his Presidential primary campaigns; and contains photographs of other members of the Kennedy family attending various events.